Category: Australian News

Greens Deputy Leader and Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi is calling on the Labor government to get animals off the MV Bahijah and reject the application to send it back to sea. The ship sits off the coast of Western Australia and the animals have been onboard the ship for almost a month.

Senator Faruqi said:

“Leaving sheep and cattle on the MV Bahijah in the scorching summer heat is animal torture. Sending them back out on another long journey is absolutely unacceptable. 

“There are more than 15,000 sheep and cattle sweltering off the coast of WA. Minister Watt must get these animals off the ship and reject the application to send them back to sea. 

“The Minister has the power to get the animals off this ship right now, and must do so immediately. 

“The government already made one gross error by approving this trip through a conflict zone. There is no room to make another mistake when it will be the animals that suffer the consequences. 

“Animals are sentient beings, but they have been treated as fodder for profit by the live export industry and governments.

“Labor must legislate an end date now and start the shut down of live exports. Sheep can’t wait for the next term of government.”

The Greens say Labor must eliminate dodgy accounting tricks from new bilateral deals on school funding, with states and territories currently able to include 4% in non-school spending in their public school funding share.

This Morrison-era trickery means that yesterday’s WA deal will only deliver 96% of minimum funding to the state’s public schools, locking in underfunding for the next six years.

The Greens support calls for an increase of the Commonwealth share of public school funding from 20% to at least 25%, and introduced a bill last year to establish a 25% funding floor.

Greens spokesperson on Education (Primary & Secondary), Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“Labor’s announcement yesterday on WA public school funding shows that pressure from the Greens, unions, teachers, parents and carers is working.

“But let’s be really clear: this is not a deal for full funding. It’s not even a deal for minimum funding. It’s a deal which locks in underfunding until 2029 for 300,000 WA schoolkids.

“Labor can’t be taken seriously on public school funding while they perpetuate a Morrison-era sleight of hand that shortchanges our most disadvantaged kids. 

“Labor needs to be honest and transparent with parents, carers and teachers and they need to close this loophole in the next bilateral agreements.

“They should also support our bill to axe the 20% Commonwealth funding cap and replace it with a 25% floor.

“Public schools have waited long enough for 100% SRS funding. Let’s just get it done.”

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Australia’s universal health insurance system — Medicare.

Since 1 February 1984, Medicare has been the world-class foundation of our modern health system.

Its architects were some of our nation’s distinguished leaders — notably the Hon Dr Neal Blewett AC, the late Professor John Deeble AO and the late the Hon Bill Hayden AC.

On the 40th anniversary, we acknowledge and remember their contribution to delivering a major social reform — a simple, fair and affordable insurance system, that helps all Australians.

Medicare gives Australian citizens and permanent residents access to a wide range of health and hospital services at no cost or low cost. Through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the cost of medicine for most medical conditions is also heavily subsidised.

Because of Medicare, Australia’s health system is one of the best in the world. Australia ranks highly among OECD countries for many key indicators, including life expectancy.

The way Australians access Medicare has changed since the opening of the first Medicare office at Bankstown on 1 February 1984.

Cheques and physical paperwork are no longer our main way of doing business – today Medicare processes almost half a billion services a year, with most claims made on the spot at the doctor’s.

Australians go online to access and manage their Medicare account through myGov, and My Health Record helps to securely store all their health data.

The Labor Party built Medicare and it is the Labor Party that will continue to ensure it serves all Australians in the future.

the Prime Minister said:

“Every day, everywhere I go, people talk to me about healthcare and how important it is to their lives.

“We are so lucky to have a system like Medicare in this country and we owe a great debt to people like Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke who fought so hard to deliver it.

“My Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Medicare and make it easier and cheaper to get quality healthcare, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.”

Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler said:

“As we mark the 40th anniversary of Medicare, it is also vital that we keep strengthening Medicare to work towards ensuring Australians can access the right care, at the right place and the right time.

“In 2023, Australians saved more than $250 million on the price of their medicines, with even greater savings expected in 2024.

“It was a Labor Government that built Medicare and it is only a Labor Government who will continue to protect and strengthen Medicare”

Minister for Government Services, the Hon Bill Shorten said:

“Medicare’s 40th anniversary is a nationally significant milestone. It’s a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and look ahead to what’s next.

“To celebrate, we’re releasing a commemorative Medicare card design. If you’re due to get a replacement card between 1 February and 31 December 2024, it’ll be a special 40-year anniversary edition. All digital Medicare cards will also be updated with the new design from 9 February.

“Evolving over the last 40 years from paper forms and fax machines to today’s digital claims, Medicare continues to streamline and adapt service delivery for both customers and health providers.

“In the last year alone, Services Australia processed over $77 billion in Medicare-related payments and took nearly 11 and a half million calls for Medicare-related enquiries.”

With most students returning to school around the country today, Australian parents have sent a clear message to Labor to end school funding inequality, with new survey data showing that 70% believe government funding should be stripped from private schools while the public system remains underfunded.

Half of all parents surveyed believe that private schools should receive no government support at all.

Only 1.3% of public schools in Australia currently receive their bare minimum funding, which means 2.5 million students are returning this year to under-resourced schools that are not able to deliver them the education they deserve.

Meanwhile, 98% of private schools receive more government funding than they are supposed to.

The Lonergan Research poll of 1005 Australian parents of public and private school children, commissioned by the Greens, also found:

• 3 in 5 parents, including 48% of private school parents, believe the Australian school system is designed to benefit wealthier families
• two thirds of parents, including 52% of private school parents, think that private schools that receive public funding should not be able to charge fees
• Three quarters of parents, including 54% of private school parents, said that private schools receiving government funding should not be able to pick and choose which students they accept
• 69% of parents believe that private schools have too much money

Greens spokesperson on Education (Primary & Secondary) Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“This poll shows that Australian parents know that the school system is inherently unfair and that public schools are copping a raw deal.

“Even parents of private school kids acknowledge that the system is rigged in their favour.

“Under Labor and the Coalition, elite private schools have for decades been subsidised with billions of dollars of government largesse, while the public system – which is responsible for educating more than 80% of our most disadvantaged kids – has languished. Labor’s own review into the school system called out this shocking disparity. 

“While the richest schools in the country are building gleaming monuments to their privilege, schools in our poorest and most remote communities slide further and further into decline.  

“If Labor is genuine about leaving no one behind then fully funding public schools is a great inflation-neutral way to reduce the cost burden on families and give our kids a brighter future.

“The new National School Reform Agreement and bilateral deals are being negotiated right now. With Labor in power federally and in every mainland state and territory they have absolutely no excuse not to deliver 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard to every public school by January 2025.”

School polling table

Lonergan methodology statement

Today’s so-called “deal” between the federal and WA Labor governments on school funding looks more like a stitch-up for public school kids than an end to the inequality crisis in our schools, the Australian Greens say.

Greens spokesperson on Education (Primary & Secondary), Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“There is no new deal for full funding of public schools in WA, or anywhere else in the country for that matter.

“What’s been announced today is an agreement to make an agreement to keep public schools underfunded into the future.

“States and territories are able to claim 4% in non-school costs as part of their contribution to public school funding. That means that even if this deal-to-make-a-deal produces actual funding reforms, the WA school system will only receive 96% of its bare minimum funding. 

“If this is the model that the federal education minister is looking to roll out to the rest of the country then Labor is leaving 2.5 million public school kids short changed. Again.

“To fix the teacher shortage crisis, ensure all schools have the resources they need, and end schooling inequality, Labor must deliver 100% full SRS funding to all public schools by the start of the next National School Reform Agreement, in January 2025.”

Australia is investing $5 million to help Timor-Leste and the Pacific prepare for and respond to the early impacts of El Niño.

Our region is experiencing the effects of climate change and, in 2024, climate-related hazards and disasters are expected to intensify. The El Niño system brings extremely dry conditions to some areas of the region and wild weather to others.

In Timor-Leste, drought is impacting agriculture, freshwater availability and food security. Countries in the Pacific are facing similar challenges due to increased cyclone activity and flooding.

Australia is supporting the pre-positioning of non-food items, water conservation and storage, establish water systems and support food security. We are doing this as part of our partnership with the Australian Red Cross and the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, which works with communities.

This responds to our Timor-Leste and Pacific partners’ calls for early action, and concrete support to address the impacts of climate change. It will protect people’s lives and livelihoods, reduce costs and allow communities to recover better and faster from disasters.

Australia also welcomes the release of USD2 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to respond to El Niño-related drought in Timor-Leste.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“Climate change threatens the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of Timor-Leste and the Pacific.

“In partnership with the Pacific and Timor-Leste, we stand with our region to meet the challenges of climate change and El Niño.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“By investing in locally led early response systems, we aim to reduce the humanitarian impacts of any disasters that face the Pacific and Timor-Leste. This delivers on Australia’s commitment to help Pacific partners and communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“Australia’s support to build resilience to crises is closely aligned with the Pacific’s ambitions and commitments, including under the Boe Declaration and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.”

The Albanese Government is investing up to $70 million to develop the Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub in north Queensland, creating regional jobs and supporting Australia’s future as a renewable energy powerhouse.  

The project delivers on the Government’s election commitment to establish a hydrogen hub in North Queensland.

It will create at least 200 direct job opportunities for local electricians, plumbers, fitters and concreters during construction, as well ongoing jobs in technical and engineering roles.

The initial stage of the hub will produce 800 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, enough to fuel over 40 heavy vehicles a year. It will ramp up to around 3,000 tonnes for domestic supply, and ultimately in excess of 150,000 tonnes for export.

The hub, led by Edify Energy, will produce green hydrogen for use by local industry and in zero-emissions transport. It will also deliver a 17.6 MW domestic production facility with integrated renewable energy generation and battery storage.

Edify and its partners – including Siemens Energy, Queensland TAFE, James Cook University and Townsville Enterprise Limited – will work with industry bodies to provide education and training to ensure Townsville’s workforce is skilled and ready to develop and sustain the region’s hydrogen industry.

Construction will begin next year and be complete in 2026, with initial commercial operations scheduled to start in 2027.

The project has over $137 million of combined investment. The Commonwealth’s contribution is up to $70 million, including $20.7 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The remaining funding is being sourced from industry and the German Government.

This Australian-German collaboration brings together Germany’s expertise in hydrogen technology and Australia’s potential to be a world leader in the production and export of renewable hydrogen.

Townsville is part of over $500 million in Commonwealth funding for hydrogen hubs in regional centres like Gladstone, Bell Bay, Kwinana, the Pilbara, Port Bonython and the Hunter.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Investing in Townsville’s hydrogen industry is investing in Australia’s future.

“The global shift to clean energy and decarbonised economies is a huge economic opportunity for North Queensland.

“We are determined to grasp this opportunity and are investing half a billion dollars into regional hydrogen hubs all around Australia.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said:

“Renewable hydrogen is a game changer, opening the door to green metals, green fertiliser, green power and supporting industrial decarbonisation.

“The whole world needs renewable hydrogen, and regional Australia is ready to provide it.

“With its port, expertise in exports and access to Queensland’s abundant solar resources, Townsville is ideally placed to help power the world with Australian renewable energy and create jobs in regional Australia.”

• $1.73 billion commitment for full delivery of Rockhampton Ring Road
• Rockhampton Ring Road construction started in November 2023
• Includes critical connections to the local road network

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Steven Miles today celebrated construction progress on the $1.73 billion Rockhampton Ring Road – a project that is now fully funded by both levels of government.

The commitment will deliver the full 17.4 km Rockhampton Ring Road, with an increased Australian Government commitment of $1.2 billion and an increased Queensland Government commitment to $530 million.

This transformative project for Central Queensland will increase connections to key precincts in the city and improve access, travel times to critical services including the hospital and emergency services, and road safety.

The ring road alignment opens up new travel routes to key leisure, retail, education and defence facilities.

The Rockhampton Ring Road project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build capability within the regional workforce, with an extended pipeline of road infrastructure construction that provides opportunities for apprentices and trainees, engineers and technical services to be engaged on this significant infrastructure build.

Construction on the first $280 million package of works started in November 2023. Both contractor joint ventures mobilised to site in November to start construction at key work locations in Parkhurst and on Rockhampton-Ridgelands Road in West Rockhampton.

Construction on this phase of the Rockhampton Ring Road is expected to take up to two years to complete.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: 

“Late last year the Australian and Queensland governments confirmed construction would be underway on the Rockhampton Ring Road by the end of 2023, and here we are two months into construction to deliver this essential infrastructure project for Central Queensland.

“This significant investment by the Australian and Queensland governments is a long-term, visionary project for Queensland’s biggest highway, the lifeline for the state of Queensland that will unlock future economic growth, build flood resilience, reduce travel times, improve road safety and support jobs.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said:

“The Rockhampton Ring Road will be a critical new artery for Central Queensland, and the broader Bruce Highway.

“It means a safer and quicker drive for locals and more productive travel for our transport sector, moving freight around the State.

“When complete, big trucks will avoid 19 sets of traffic lights through the middle of Rockhampton, which has long been regarded as the pinch point for travel on the Bruce Highway. That is critical for Queensland’s economic growth.

“I’m proud that our governments have come together to fully fund the Rockhampton Ring Road – to create jobs, local supply chain opportunities, and better connections for the region.”

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

“The Australian Government’s commitment to fund and deliver ensures that Rockhampton and the Central Queensland region can maximise both the economic and human benefit from the project, building capability and skills in the region.

“I am delighted that this will support industries and keep freight moving throughout Queensland.”

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish said:

“Finalising the agreement between the Australian and Queensland government to fund the full cost of the Rockhampton Ring Road, is testament to the commitment the Miles Government has to regional Queensland.

“The Rockhampton Ring Road will transform Rockhampton.

“Increased connections to key precincts in the city will improve access and travel times to critical services including the hospital and emergency services, open up new travel routes for the defence services, the leisure, retail and education precincts, and move through-freight out of the city, decreasing conflicts between heavy vehicles and commuter traffic, improving road safety and the ambience of the city.”

Extra background information:

To maximise local engagement, Local Buy targets are embedded in the contract, and throughout the contract development process the importance of engaging local businesses and resources has been prioritised with the contractor joint ventures.

Within less than 10 weeks of possession of site, local sub-contractor engagement on the Rockhampton Ring Road project is already tracking well with 47 of the 68 contracts awarded to date going to local businesses.

The target for local engagement on this first construction package is more than 80 per cent of sub-contract value awarded to local business. While its early days for construction delivery, on South Package 1 contract value awarded to local businesses is already at 85 per cent.

Further opportunities for engagement on the project will be available as the delivery strategy for the full scope of the project is confirmed and further packages of work are released to the market.

From October 1, flights EK430 (Dubai to Brisbane) and EK431 (Brisbane to Dubai), will be serviced by A380s, the world’s largest passenger plane, and one of the world’s noisiest.

The flights would land in Brisbane at 10:40pm and depart to Dubai at 1:55am.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP, Greens spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities said:

“The last thing Brisbane residents need is a 2am wake-up call from the world’s largest passenger plane roaring straight over their houses.

“This is exactly why the community and the Greens have been campaigning so strongly for a curfew, just like the curfew Sydney already has.

“Brisbane Airport should have a curfew on flights between 10pm and 6am.

“At a time when the Brisbane community is crying out for action on excessive flight noise, it is insulting that BAC and Airservices Australia are allowing a new A380 service to fly over people’s homes in the middle of the night.

“The Greens won’t stop fighting to ultimately secure a flight cap and curfew that would deliver long-term relief for Brisbane residents.”

Responding to Labor’s reheated Stage 3 tax cuts announcements, the Greens – who have opposed the Stage 3 tax cuts package since their inception – have said Labor has failed to deliver fairness for low and middle income earners and that the Greens would fight for further changes to the package. 

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“In a housing and cost of living crisis, Labor’s offering people on middle incomes an extra $15 a week while giving $4,500 a year to politicians and billionaires. Is that really the best Labor can do in a housing, rental and cost of living crisis?

“Labor’s giving the very wealthy three times as much as the average wage earner. 

“The Greens have kept up the pressure on Labor’s unfair original tax plan from day one, and as this legislation works its way through Parliament, the Greens will fight for more for low and middle income earners who are struggling under Labor’s housing and rental crisis.

“Why is Labor expecting people to be happy with an additional $15 a week, when rents have gone up by about $100 a week under Labor’s housing and rental crisis and mortgages almost $200 a week?

“Labor claims there’s only $15 a week extra for middle Australia, no money to raise the rate of Centrelink and no money to get dental and mental health into Medicare, while forging ahead with a $4500 tax cut for every billionaire and politician.”